CONCLUSION
"So 'Earty comes round in the mornin' an' says 'e's sorry, an'
Millikins she be'aves jest like a little princess, 'oldin' 'er 'ead as
'igh as 'igh, an' agrees to go back, an' everybody lives 'appy ever
after, everybody 'cept me. Since that night Mrs. B. 'as given me
pickles. I don't understand it," he added in a puzzled way; "seems as
if she's sort of 'uffy cause she dripped a bit."
"I think that is what it must be," remarked Mrs. Dick Little. "You
must be gentle with her."
"Gentle! You don't know Mrs. B., miss, I mean mum. When Mrs. B.'s at
one end o' the broom an' you're within range o' the dust she raises,
it's nippy you got to be, not gentle."
Mrs. Little laughed.
It was a fortnight after the events at Mr. Hearty's house that had led
up to Millie's leaving home, and Bindle was seated with the Littles in
their new flat in Chelsea Palace Mansions.
"Yes," continued Bindle, after a pause, "them two love-birds is
engaged, and Charlie Dixon's enlisted, an' Millie's as proud as an 'en
wot's laid an egg. 'Earty's a different man; but it's Mrs. B. wot does
me. She'd take the edge orf a chisel. Gentle! I'd like to meet the
man 'oo'd got the pluck to try it on wi' Mrs. B." And Bindle laughed
good-humouredly.
"An' to think," continued Bindle, looking quizzically from Dick Little
to his wife, "to think that I 'elped you two to get tied up."
Mrs. Little laughed gaily, and Bindle drank deeply of a large glass of
ale at his elbow.
"I'm afraid you're a terrible misogynist, Mr. Bindle," said Mrs. Little.
"A wot, mum?" queried Bindle, with corrugated brow.
"A woman-hater," explained Little.
"There you're wrong, mum, if yer'll allow me to say so; I don' 'ate
women."
"But," persisted Mrs. Little, "you are always suggesting how happy the
world would be without us."
Bindle removed his cigar from his mouth and, bending forward towards
Mrs. Little, remarked impressively, "You got 'old o' the wrong end o'
the stick, mum. I ain't got nothink to say agin women. I likes the
ladies."
"But," broke in Little, "didn't you solemnly warn me, Bindle? Now own
up."
"That's quite correct," replied Bindle, with undisturbed composure. "I
did as I would like a mate to do by me, I jest put up me 'and like an'
said, 'Dangerous crossin' 'ere,' same as they do for motors."
"But you say you are not a woman-hater; I don't understand." Mrs.
Little screwed up her pretty face in what Little regarded as a most
provoking manner.
"Well, mum, you're sort o' mixin' up women an' wives. I ain't got
nothink to say against women provided they don't marry yer. When they
do they seems to change." Bindle paused, then with unconscious
philosophy added, "P'r'aps it's because they find out all about yer."
The silence that ensued was broken by Bindle. "I s'pose," he said
thoughtfully, "I'd sort o' miss my little bit of 'eaven if anythink wos
to 'appen to 'er. Fancy goin' 'ome an' no one there to say, 'Got a
job?'"
There was a note in Bindle's voice which constrained Little and his
wife to silence. After a minute's pause he added:
"It can't be all 'oney livin' with an 'eathen such as me."
For fully five minutes no one spoke. It was again Bindle who broke the
silence.
"It was you, sir, o' course, wot played that little game on 'Earty?"
"What, the Theodore Hook joke?" enquired Little.
Bindle looked puzzled. "I mean the dogs an' 'ousekeepers an' orphans.
I felt sorry for 'Earty then." And Bindle laughed in spite of himself.
"It was a cruel jest, whoever played it," said Mrs. Little with
decision; and looking meaningly at her husband she added, "I hope I
shall never know who did it, or I should speak very bluntly."
Dick Little looked uncomfortable, and Bindle created a diversion by
rising.
"Well, I must be 'oppin' it," he remarked genially. "I enjoyed this
little talk."
Dick Little preceded him into the hall. Bindle stepped back into the
room.
"Miss--mum, I mean," he said awkwardly, "you ain't inclined to be
religious, are yer?"
There was such earnestness in his voice that Mrs. Little checked the
laugh that was upon her lips.
"No, Mr. Bindle, I'm afraid I'm not at all a good person."
Bindle heaved a sigh of relief. "Then 'e's got a sportin' chance," he
muttered, half to himself. "Good-night, mum." And Bindle closed the
door behind him.
"Well, Ettie," said Dick Little, as he re-entered the room, "what do
you think of J. B.? Not a bad sort of fellow, eh?"
"Dick, I think he's a perfect dear."
And Dick Little expressed entire concurrence with his wife's view in a
way that young husbands have.
THE END
BOOKS BY
HERBERT JENKINS
BINDLE
Some chapters In the Life of Joseph Bindle. Of the popular edition,
190,000 copies have already been called for.
THE NIGHT CLUB
Further episodes in the career of Bindle. No less than 37,000 copies
of the ordinary edition were called for within a few weeks of
publication.
ADVENTURES OF BINDLE
A second edition, completing 60,000 copies, was ordered before the book
appeared. Further episodes in the career of J.B.
MRS. BINDLE
Some incidents from the life of the Bindles. Among other things, It
narrates how Mrs. Bindle encountered a bull and what happened to the
man who destroyed her geraniums.
THE BINDLES ON THE ROCKS
Another volume of stories of the Bindle menage. Poor old Bindle loses
his job and hard times are endured, but his good friends rally round
when his plight is discovered.
JOHN DENE OF TORONTO
A comedy of Whitehall which struck a new note and achieved a new
success.
MALCOLM SAGE, DETECTIVE
Some chapters from the records of the Malcolm Sage Bureau. A book of
thrills and mystery.
PATRICIA BRENT, SPINSTER
A comedy of our own times that stirred five continents to laughter. It
has been translated into Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian, etc.
THE RAIN-GIRL
A romance of to-day, telling how Richard Hereford threw up a post at
the Foreign Office and set out to tramp the roads as a vagabond.
THE RETURN OF ALFRED
A comedy of mis-identification by which a man is proclaimed a returned
prodigal.
HERBERT JENKINS'
SPLENDID LIBRARY
MODERN BALLROOM DANCING (Illustrated)
By VICTOR SILVESTER, Winner of the World's Dancing Championship,
1922-1923.
How to dance the Flat Charleston, Tango, Foxtrot, and other ballroom
dances.
SILVESTER'S SENSIBLE COOKERY
BY ELIZABETH SILVESTER, late Principal of the Leamington School of
Cookery.
A common-sense cookery book for the inextravagant.
PETER PETTINGER
BY W. RILEY, Author of _Windyridge_.
A powerful story of the relation of Capital and Labour.
THE LAKE OF ENCHANTMENT
BY ROSEMARY REES, Author of _April's Sowing_.
A romance of New Zealand.
_Newcastle Chronicle_.--"A delightful love story."
ASHMORLANDS
BY WINIFRED BOGGS, Author of _The Sale of Lady Daventry_.
_Manchester Evening News_.--"A powerful story told with skill."
KIRSTIE-TO-ME
BY MAUDE CRAWFORD, Author of _Peggy up in Arms_.
A delightful love story.
KIM RUFF
BY SIDNEY COWING, Author of _Held to Ransom_.
The romance of a man of grit.
_East Anglian Daily News_.--"The story is excellent."
THE ISLE OF HATE
BY ALAN DARE, Author of _Killigrew_.
A thrilling story.
_Morning Post_.--"A story well worth reading."
THE STOLEN SCAR
BY GRET LANE, Author of _The Saga of Sally Bird_.
A gripping adventure story.
_East Anglian Daily Times_.--"A tale which will make a strong appeal."
DIGBY'S MIRACLE
BY FRED E. WYNNE, Author of _A Mediterranean Mystery_.
A clever story of faith, fraud and foolishness.
_The Times_.--"The plot is ingenious and the characters are definite
and amusing."
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
THE NIGHT CLUB
Further Episodes in the Career of Bindle
ADVENTURES OF BINDLE
A New Volume of Bindle's Experiences
JOHN DENE OF TORONTO
A Comedy of Whitehall
MALCOLM SAGE, DETECTIVE
Some Pages from the Records of the Malcolm Sage Detective Bureau
MRS. BINDLE
Some Incidents from the Domestic Life of the Bindles
THE BINDLES ON THE ROCKS
Another volume of stories of the Bindles' Menage
PATRICIA BRENT, SPINSTER
THE RAIN GIRL
THE RETURN OF ALFRED